Bamboo Flooring Installation

Bamboo flooring installation can appear to
be a complex task for some of us. In reality it can be
carried out with relative ease by a competent do it yourself
enthusiast. If the correct procedure is followed, the
floor installation will be accomplished within a
reasonable time frame too.

Whether it is bamboo laminate or any other kind of
similar flooring, for those thinking of carrying out their own
flooring installation our recommendation is to follow the
manufacturers/suppliers guidelines and instructions.
Although very similar from one to the next, there may be
some differences due to the
way each type of floor is manufactured. It is advisable to
follow the guidelines as they will have been tried and
tested and will help to make sure that you can enjoy your
bamboo floor for many
years to come.

You should let the bamboo floor planks acclimate before actually starting to lay
them. This is done by placing them in the room that they will be installed in to for
several days. The
acclimatization process should take place at the temperature
that the room is expected to be at normally after the floor
has been installed. Therefore if
the room is a permanently air conditioned one then the air
conditioning will need to be on for the duration of the
acclimatization. This one step will help ensure that
your floor will not warp or buckle after it has been
installed.

Additionally, all sub floor surfaces should be clean,
smooth and dry, as anything that isn't will affect the
adhesion of the laminate to the sub floor. Doing this wrong,
may not become evident for some time, perhaps years in some
cases, so it will pay to get it done right the first time.

Even if you are a competent handy person you may want to
invest in some books that specifically refer to flooring
installations.

There are many flooring installation 'experts'
available, but not all will be right for the job.

Of course, not everyone will wish to tackle the job of installing
their floor themselves. They may instead wish to get a contractor to
carry the work out for them. Most flooring suppliers will either
have a team that can carry out installations or they will keep a
list of the qualified installers that they work with on a regular
basis.

If you have obtained a list of installers from the company you
bought your floor from, it would be a wise move to make some calls
to the installers themselves to ask some questions. The following
are just some examples of what you should ask:

Do they have experience in laying the type of floor
that you wish to install?

Are they able to provide references from other customers that
they have installed a floor for?

Do they have photos of installations that they have made?

Are they located reasonably near to your premises?

Can they guarantee that their work will be carried out to a
high level of workmanship and that it will be free of defects?

If something were to go wrong, both during or after the
installation due to their fault, do they have insurance to cover
damages and possible compensation?

Are they a member of the Better Business Bureau? (You may want
to verify this with your local BBB)

After going through your list of installers and
eventually drawing up a shortlist, you will want to request
a quotation for the laying of your floor. Try to have as
much information as possible available to hand when making
your call because the installer will certainly have some
questions of their own for you. You may be asked some
questions similar to those below:

What type of flooring requires installation?

Is the new floor finished or unfinished?

Is it a floating floor or one that will nailed or glued to the
sub floor?

Is there a preference for particular brands of glue, nails or
other materials used during the installation? (Perhaps glues of
low toxicity for example)

What is the type and condition of the existing floor?

Will the existing floor require extensive work prior to laying
the laminate?

What preferences do you have for an under floor?

How large is the area to be covered, in square feet?

Where are you located?

When would you like the floor installed?

How quickly would you like the floor installed?

Once you have received your quotations, you will need to make a
decision on who to use for installing your bamboo floor. Pricing
might vary substantially, but always try to take all things into
consideration before making a firm decision on a fitter for the job. Essentially, it will
usually pay to go with the contractor that has a proven track
record. Whether they will be the cheapest or not is another matter.
If you find that a quotation is excessively high, you may want to
try and negotiate one that is lower. A bit of persistence can often
pay dividends, so speak up and simply ask if they can do the work a bit
more cheaply.

Generally speaking, you should be able to get a good idea of who
you can trust to carry out the job properly at a fair price simply
by going through the steps mentioned above.

So, congratulations, you are almost there. If after installing
your floor you'd like to tell the world all about the classy new
addition to your home or workplace and how much enjoyment it has
brought into your life then just drop us a line. Or maybe things
didn't go as planned, for better or worse, and you'd like to share
your experience and tips with others that are thinking of buying or
installing a bamboo floor. Either way, we'd love to
hear from you!